Monitoring and Coordinating Education Development

Education is a basic human right and is essential for the exercise of all other rights. Yet there are still 774 million illiterate in the world and 58 million children are still out of primary school, and many more young and adult women and men are not learning what they need to know to lead healthy fulfilling lives.

Because of a combination of factors - such as poverty, gender inequality, geographic isolation and minority status - quality education is a distant dream for many notably for girls from poor households in rural areas. They are among the children facing the greatest barriers to education.

One of UNESCO’s main responsibilities is to advocate for the right of every girl and boy, young and adult woman and man, to quality education throughout life – regardless of the setting (formal, non-formal or informal).

The Organization also coordinates an international movement in support of Education for All (EFA) and is responsible for monitoring the achievement of internationally agreed goals pertaining to education.

Looking beyond 2015 – the deadline set by the international community to achieve the EFA goals - UNESCO is also monitoring developments in education more broadly through research and by prompting international debates.

Right to Education

Normative instruments developed by the UN and UNESCO lay down international legal obligations for the right to education for all.

The Organization advocates for this right by monitoring its implementation, building capacities, and reporting on progress. UNESCO also helps countries develop legal frameworks as well as mobilizes global partners on issues relating to the right to education.

Published by UNESCO and developed by an independent team, the annual Education for All Global Monitoring Report monitors global progress towards the six Education for All goals. Each year the report presents evidence to inform policy makers on a specific topicissue such as reaching marginalized populations, conflict, skills for youth, or teaching and learning. The GMR draws on data from a variety of sources including the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the leading source for international education statistics.

Rethinking Education

In addition to monitoring the state of education, UNESCO also functions as a “think tank” to guide global debates on the future of education. It does so by analyzing emerging development trends and their implications for education systems and for learning. It also reviews research on education policy and suggests strategic orientations for education policy development.